Eastern Libya, cradle of the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has in recent months been hit by a series of bombings and assassinations targeting judges, military and police officers who worked under the ousted regime.

Attacks have also been carried out against Western interests including the June 5 assassination attempt on Jean Dufriche, the honorary consul of France in the eastern city of Benghazi.

These attacks are usually attributed to radical Islamists who are deeply rooted in this region.